Friday 3 January 2014

The Truth by Michael Palen

This 2012  fiction book by Michael Palen  succeeded  in uplifting my spirits. Repeated failures, exasperations  , absurdities  and frustrations  of life bring us disappointments , breed and  strengthen our cynicism,  sometimes  make us feel that all those grand plans  full of good  ideals  and pious intentions are just grand pretences , and  finally may  turn out to be delusions .Despite all this , as this story tells us , we can act in ways that are uplifting .This book  left me on a real high.
                  In real life , we meet  some good people , and a larger number who are not good.But to search  for  perfect , flawless persons  is likely to result in a delusion .That is The Truth , which Michael Palin  tells us in this very interesting and thrilling book .It is just a coincidence that at present stage , I am working in the field of  environment and forests in India , and I recently visited London/UK in connection with  study of wildlife.This book is set in London and in India and deals with environmental issues, along  with  power plays , manipulations ,  cost of development ,exploitation  of  natural resources,uprooting of local tribal population , militant extremism and other related issues.Keith  Mabbut , the protagonist , finds  the truth at the end of this work .
                          The book also raises the  complex issues of our need for heroes and role models ,the issue of personal compromises and the costs to be paid , if you don't compromise.The book takes a biting swipe at publishing industry, and how  publishers can become a tool in the hands of the  powerful and the mighty.
                          Martin Buber in his book has said that fiction is the closest to truth while  journalism is farthest from truth , bordering on lies.This book proved to me that truth can be revealed  by a fictional story .
                                  Palen has  the ability to create , build and narrate a beautiful and enjoyable  story , which is also full of truth and meaning .It thrills about Environment , a subject which really matters for each one of us.This book is not a thriller but it thrills  more than a conventional thriller.It  is delightful , thrilling and uplifting .I recommend you to read it .
                      

2 comments:

akshaya Bhatia said...

Unless human beings start acknowledging themselves to be intrinsically part of environment (not just attached to it externally) where they breathe and move, the state of environment and therefore mankind, is not going to improve........

Vidya Nand Garg said...

I agree .But" The Truth" says , and I agree with it , that what you prescribe is a very , very distant dream .